Rochambeau

How to Really Love A Child

Be there~ Say yes as often as possible.  Let them bang on pots and pans.  If they're crabby, put them in water, if they're unlovable, love yourself.  Realize how important it is to be a child.  Go to a movie theatre in your pajamas~ Read books out loud with JOY.  Invent pleasures together.  Remember how really small they are.  Giggle a lot, surprise them, say no when necessary.  Teach feelings.  Heal your own inner child.  Learn about parenting.  Hug trees together.  Make loving safe.  Bake a cake and eat it with no hands, Go find elephants and kiss them,  Plan to build a rocket ship, Imagine yourself magic.  Make lots of forts with blankets.  Let your angel fly.  Reveal your own dreams.  Search out the positive.  Keep the gleam in your eye.  Mail Letters to God.  Encourage silly.  Plant licorice in your garden, open up, stop yelling  Express your love.  A lot.  Speak kindly.  Paint their tennis shoes.  Handle with caring.

Children are Miraculous

By Sark

Christmas in Jefferson ~ 2009

When I arrived it was that magical time of day, where the sun is just beginning to disappear into darkness.

The Manse looked stunning, all festooned in fresh greenery and tied up in red bows, decorated beautifully and tastefully, for the annual Jefferson Christmas Tour of homes.  Everything looked gorgeous both on the outside and the candlelit inside.

This home was selected as one of four to be featured on tour this year. It is the oldest house on record in Jefferson, built in 1839.  It's proprietor has given this special dwelling much attention and care.

After the sun set, guests were greeted by a set of cressets (wire baskets filled with pine chips) ablaze, flanking either side of the front entrance.   These are the first know form of a street lamps.

 

Inside was warm and aglow with literally hundreds of candles.

There were many pretty white flower arrangements~

This garland was decorated with White House ornaments, each one collected year after year.

 

Statues sporting their fancy dress ~

The dining table was set beautifully.  In the background do you see the two  grapevine geese floating through the room with red flowers on their back?

 
 

The Christmas tree was in the Master Bedroom.
bring to life many beautiful antiques including a Wellington Chest, in the corner.

 

Shadows danced on the ceiling~

 

This "sampler" above, was created by the woman of the house when she was a teenager.

(above wallpaper Schumacher, sterling lamps from Spain)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was nice to serve as docent in this lovely home!  Really makes me feel the spirit of Christmas!  Hope you've enjoyed seeing a bit of the Manse too!

How are your holiday going?  A wish that your days are merry and bright, that you have had the time to be in the moment and feel joy, breathe in, breathe out!

xox

Constance

I will be by this week, but I'm without my computer still.

Recipe for A Perfect Day!

 

The day was unbelievably cool & crisp and the shadows long.  My absolute favorite kind of day!  We shared the magic light with good friends who came for a visit,  Phillissia & Hank and Molly & Charles.

(Image of Ginger Cake:  Hank Rossi)

After many rainy weeks in East Texas, the tables turned and we are experiencing "Postcard Perfect" days, (my fathers term for unbelievably excellent weather).

(above, Phillissia and Hank)

 

In our neck of the woods, this particular brand of loveliness happens, but once a year and the time is NOW!  An ambiance that can make a person dizzy with happiness, after enduring a long, hot & humid summer!

We headed down to the Bayou, for a boat ride, but since it is flooded from the rain...

 

We picniced on the waterfront with Johnie, who owns the Bayou Landing, here in Jefferson.

(above photo by: Hank Rossi)

 

Le menu: Asian Salad, Beer Bread with Dill, Ginger cake, Chocolate Chip Cookies and Black grapes.

 It was peaceful to be out by the water with good buddies.

(photo above: Hank Rossi)

Catfish even made a cameo appearance!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

After, we wandered around our little town.

Winding our way into a music store, where Charles and Don jammed for awhile.

(above photos:  Hank Rossi)

When we got back home, I did some secret finishing touches on my surprise party favors for Molly and Phil, Cocktail Chapeaux to wear at dinner!

When our guest arrived, I brought my girlfriends back to pick out there favorite hat!

Decisions~Decisions!!

 

But, everyone picked their favorite!

The table was set and the candles lit.  We dined on Crawfish Etoufee and salad, sipped great wine, then for dessert,

drum roll please........

(photo above: Hank Rossi)

We savored Phillissia's Bread-pudding Souffle served with Whiskey Sauce!

  After we dined, Charles served up a live performance!

 Then Molly and Charles played together for awhile, making our house sound and feel happy! Nothing like family and good friends, delicious food, good wine, nice weather, and live music to make a heart happy!!

 Charles even taught me a new jazz progression on the guitar last night. 

Made me so happy, I cut off my left fingernails today and practiced!

(above photos:  Hank and Phillissa Rossi)

Saying Goodbye to Stuff

Next weekend my husband and I will have a
 moving sale & sell our stuff.  I say
"we", but must restate:  I am surrendering
some of my stuff.  My husband is not a
materialist person.  He refers to our
things as "my props"!

  So, I will say good bye
to an old teapot (above).



To my wooden chicken and artist model...



To the lamps that belonged to my parents
before I was born and......



Aouvoir to my Foo Dog and Ming Dynasty horse.



Good bye to the blue and white china
collection from around the world. 



Ta~ta to some of my white serving pieces.



Goodbye to my husband's vast collection of
books.  He counted 1000, but
who's counting?



Au revoir to a few of my demitasse!



Bye bye to a bag of Somepinkflowers.
But, thankfully not the REAL
Somepinkflowers.



Adios to San Pascual, the patron saint of
 kitchens and cooks! 
A retablo from New Mexico.



 Ciao to the espresso maker my parents used
when I was a child.




I must reveal, I've worked many months
on being ready for this moment....this sale.
Therefore, I have found it acceptable to let go.
 Some people have the rug pulled out and
 are forced to surrender without warning.
~
I've made a decision within.  I've
decided that in the end,  I can't take it
anyway.
~
Isn't it interesting to see what a
collection reveals about a person?
One man's treasure,
another man's junk!
~
Elizabeth encouraged me to
take photos of my stuff.
 She is a master of letting go!

Less is more!

Homage to Autumn!

Like many of you, Autumn is without a doubt my favorite time of year.
The magnificent blue colored sky, casting it's magical light and long shadows makes me happy!

~

Apples, Pomegranates, Quinces, Pears and
Shelled Nuts cry Autumn!

Apples create a beautiful still life and when their time is up, can be used for  baking.

When we moved to the East Coast four years ago, I had never seen a true fall, where the leaves turn vibrant colors.   I was so taken by the natural beauty, I decided to keep the memory alive by zeroxing some of the beautiful leaves I collected and framing them.

They hang in our room,
where the douvets just crept out
of hiding. I sleep so much better at this
time of year, do you?

Pine cones have been gathered and fill a  bowl.

Feathers fill a vase and anchor me to Fall.  So does red wine, Kousmichoff Tea (Bouquet de Fleurs) and marching not walking on the crunchy brown leaves mixed with acorns.

~

Leaves burning and the smell of Pinion wood burning in Chimeneas, remind me of the season.  So do rosy cheeks!

It's is a good time of year to cook and
bake with Nutmeg, Allspice, Cloves,
Cinnamon and Ginger.
~
You can put any combination of these spices in a pot of water, simmer and begin to fall into the delicious spell of Autumn!

May you savor all the richness and mystery
that this most glorious and golden
season has to offer!

~

Vivre! Living with Style

Eva Jeanbart Lorenzotti of Vivre.com travels the world in search of artists that create beautiful home furnishings, clothing, jewelry, and gift items.
Over the past twelve years her lineup of stunning discoveries has become rich with color and texture.  Her taste is superior and her unique 'finds' always surprise and delight plus, her intuition for the next big trend is always spot-on!  If you've never seen it before, hope you will enjoy a peek inside the Vivre catalog!

Vivre is a beautiful website and catalog out of New York.
For more information dial 800.411.6515